Report Urges Broad Actions to Preserve Journalism

Report Urges Broad Actions to Preserve Journalism

by

Andrew Vanacore

In a paper commissioned by the Columbia University Journalism School, the ex-Post editor, Len Downie, and Michael Schudson, a Columbia professor, argue the government, universities and nonprofit foundations should step in as newspapers suffer financially. (Image: myplaceforenglish.blogspot.com)

Journalism is at risk and American society must act to preserve it,
according to a report co-authored by The Washington Post's former
executive editor.

In a paper commissioned by the Columbia
University Journalism School, the ex-Post editor, Len Downie, and
Michael Schudson, a Columbia professor, argue the government,
universities and nonprofit foundations should step in as newspapers
suffer financially.

The authors recommend that the Internal
Revenue Service or Congress ensure the tax code allows local news
outlets to operate as nonprofits. Downie and Schudson also urge
philanthropic organizations to support local reporting. They suggest
the Federal Communications Commission establish a fund using fees from
telecommunications companies or Internet providers for grants to
innovative local news groups.

The authors would also like to see
public radio sharpen its focus on local news, while universities
partner with professional journalists on reporting projects. Finally,
Downie and Schudson suggest that data gathered by federal and local
governments be made more accessible and useful to reporters.

The
report, coming from one of the most prominent newspaper editors in the
country, is a stark admission that newspapers' problems run deeper than
the current recession.

As they lose advertisers and readers to
the Web - where ads are cheap and news is often free - newspapers will
play a smaller role in keeping powerful people and institutions in
check, the report concludes. The focus now, the authors argue, should
be finding workable alternatives.

"American journalism is at a
transformational moment, in which the era of dominant newspapers and
influential network news divisions is rapidly giving way to one in
which the gathering and distribution of news is more widely dispersed,"
the report begins.

Some of the suggestions in the Downie-Schudson
report already are being tried, including philanthropic funding for
journalism projects. But not everyone agrees on what other ideas ought
to be pursued next.

Anything with the ring of a government
"bailout" of the news industry is likely to be met with skepticism. And
many in the industry have argued journalists should focus on finding
new for-profit models for supporting their craft rather than look for
handouts.

Then again, "It's hard to think of a time when change
was not controversial," said Brant Houston, the Knight Chair Professor
in Investigative Reporting at the University of Illinois.

What could be worse, he argues, is if nothing is done, and journalists continue to lose their jobs.

"If
this report is read and read by more than just journalists, it will be
really important," said Houston, who was not involved in the report.
"More nonprofit and university involvement may be just part of a
transitional phase. Right now we're all interested in building a bridge
to what's next. If we don't, a lot of people are going to be left on
the other side and a lot of skills and knowledge are going to be lost."

Further

Lord, what would John Lennon have made of the Trump monster? Marking Thursday's 36th anniversary of Lennon's murder, Yoko Ono posted a plea for gun control, calling his death "a hollowing experience" and pleading, "Together, let's bring back America, the green land of Peace." With so many seeking solace in these ugly times, mourns one fan, "Oh John, you really should be here." Lennon conceded then, and likely would now, "Reality leaves a lot to the imagination."